Humidifier



Aug. 28, 1928. 1,682,513

C. E. HENDRIX I HUMIDIPIER Filed June 9, 1926 2 Sheets-Shet 1 Arm/mam Aug. 28, 1928.

c E. HENDRIX HUMIDIF'IER Filed June 9-, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet I 2 Arro/Pxvfys I l I Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. HENDRIX, F JEFFERSON CITY, MISSOURI.

HUMIDIFIEB.

Application filed June 9, 1926. Serial No. 114,624.

, this character, it is customary to provide a vaporizing chamber located within the firebox of a furnace, and to connect the vaporizing chamber with a va or spray, which spray is customarily locate within the heating chamber of the furnace. Water is supplied to the vaporizing chamber where it becomes transformed into steam, and passes to the vapor spray from which it is discharged into the heated air that is supplied to the several rooms of the building or dwelling house being heated.

The present invention has for an object thereof, the provision of an improved humidifier for use in heating systems wherein the amount of vapor discharged into the heated air is regulated in accordance with the amount of heat generated within the firebox of the furnace.

In accordance with the object of the invention, an important feature thereof consists in the provision of means for regulating the distribution of vapor spray in such a manner that the amount of spray distributed increases or decreases in accordance with increases or decreases occurring in the temperature of the heated air into which the vapor is discharged. In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, this feature is carried out by the provision of a plurality of thermostats one of which serves as a primary regulator, being operated by the conduction of heat directly from the firebox of the furnace, and the other of which serves as a secondary or auxiliary regulator, and is operable to shut ofi the suppl of water to the vaporizing chamber in t e event that such supply becomes excessive.

While the invention has been illustrated and described herein with particular reference to its incorporation in heating systems, it will be appreciated that the invention may be incorporated in other similar systems, and be useful in performing its vaporizing activities in analogous organizations.

Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification, and an inspection of the appended drawings in which,-

Fig. I is a side elevation, partly in sectlon,

of my humidifier in combination with an ordinary hot air heating furnace, which also {appears only partly illustrated and in secion.

Fig. II is a rear view of my humidifier, partly in section.

III is a top or plan view of my hum1di er Fig. IV is a detail cross section taken on the line IV-IV in Fi III.

In the drawings A esignates the combustion chamber of a hot air heating furnace, B the firebox thereof, and G the casing spaced from the combustion chamber for collecting the heated air from said furnace and directing it to the several rooms of a home through suitable piping (not shown).

1 designates a pipe through which water from a suitable source of supply (not shown) is supplied to my humidifier. 2 is a T-coupling mounted on the pipe 1 whereby the incoming water may pass at right angles into a valve-controlled chamber 3. The valve as shown at 4 has the usual needle point 5 entering a cone-shaped opening 6 in a wall 7 formed in the end of the chamber 3 nearest the coupling 2 (see Fig. IV). The valve 4 is secured by a screw-threaded connection to a revoluble disk 8 which is locked in position by a nut 9 mounted on the end of the valve 4 opposite its needle point end. The valve 4 and the interior of the chamber 3 at the point near the disk 8 are interconnected by means of screw-threads shown at 10 (see Fig. IV). Some of the water entering through pipe 1 may pass straight through the coupling 2 mto an extension pipe 11 and coupling 12. The flow of the Water through such pipe and coupling is controlled b a valve (not shown), the handle of which 1s desi ated at 13. By operating the valve control ed by the handle 13 when the device is being started, pr1m1ng water may be permitted to pass through a tip 14 and enter a pipe therebelow, which Wlll be hereinafter referred to.

The water passing through the opening 6 into the chamber 3 asses into a pipe 15 and discharges into a unnel 16 secured to the upper end of a pipe 17. This funnel and plpe are retained in position as shown 1n Flgs. I and II by a strap 18 which is secured over a valve housing 19. Into this funnel 16 water may pass through the tip 14 from pipe 11 and coupling 12 when the valve controlled by the handle 13 is operated. The plpe 17 is attached to a T-coupling 20 at its lower end which coupling is fitted with a stop 21 atits outer end, its inner end connecting With a pipe 22 which leads through another pipe 23 into an enlarged chamber 24, said pipe 22 terminating short of the inside or closed end of said chamber 24. The chamber 24 is preferably screwed onto the pipe 23, as shown at 25. The pipe 23 is screw-threaded in a coupling 26 mounted on a pipe 27. On the side of the coupling 26 opposite to that into which the pipe 23 is screw-threaded, the coupling 20 is screw-threaded as appears at 28. As shown in Fig. II, 29 is a pipe or extension extending downwardly from the coupling 26. 32 is a T- coupling attached to pipe 29, and 33 is a pipe extending downwardly from said coupling 32 with a stop 30 inserted in the end of said pipe 33. 31 is a stop having an asbestos filler inserted between the coupling 32 and an elbow 29' which supports a pan 37. The stop 31 prevents the passage of hot water from the pipe 29 to the pan 37. The pipe 33 acts as a sediment chamber where any accumulation may be disposed of periodically by with drawing the stop 30. When the sedlment is cleared out the stop 30 is replaced.

34 is a thermostat designed to be operated by the hot water passing through a pipe 35 which is attached to the pipe 29, as shown at 36. Any heated water passing through pipe 35 enters the pan 37 and passes out of the system through a drain pipe 38. 39 is a strap carried by the pan 37 through which a rod 40 is designed to pass, the lower end of said rod contacting with the upper portion of the thermostat 34.

The upper end of the rod 40 is secured to a strap 41 pivotally mounted on the end of a bar 42, which, in turn, is pivotally mounted on the chamber 3, (Fig. III). To this bar 42 a wing nut 44 it attached by a bolt 44 which is designed to secure the outer edge of the disk 8 to the bar 42 in such position as may be desirable or necessary, whereby said disk may be turned to open or close the valve 4 by the movement of said bar 42.

45 designates another bar that may be operatively associated with the bar 42. This bar 45 is likewise pivotally mounted on the chamber 3 (see Fig. III). 46 is a bolt passing through said bar 45, the lower end of said bolt 46 contacting with a thermostat 47 which is designed to be operated by the heat of the steam passing through the pipe 27. The bar 45 is limited in its u ward and downward movement by means 0 a bolt 48 having a nut 49 to limit the upward movement of the bar and a nut 50 to limit the downward movement of said bar; The extent of such movement may be varied by manipulating the nuts 49 and 50. The bolt 48 is secured to a pipe 51, which is an extension of pipe 27, by a strap 52. 53 is a light coil spring attached to the end of the bar 45 to normally restrain the upward movement of said bar. As soon as suflicient heat has been generated in my humidifier to operate the thermostat 47, the bar 45 is raised to its most elevated position, as seen in Fig. II, which position is determined by the position of the nut 49 on the bolt 48. This permits the bar 42 to drop by gravity, thus opening the valve 4 by the turning of the disk 8 through its connection with bar 42 by the wing nut 44. 55 designates a plate fastened by a screw to the free end at its underside of the bar 42, and relative movement between the free end of the bar 42 and the bar 45 is determined by a screw 55 which is screwed into the, upper side of the free end of bar 42, and is designed to contact with the upper side of bar 45. The pipe 51 extends through the wall of the hot-air chamber C and connects with a vapor spray 54 located within the hot-air chamber.

When the rod 40 is raised by the thermostat 34 the disk 8 is rotated by the Wing nut 44 on the elevation of the bar 42, which tends to close the valve 4, thus shutting off the supply of water or substantially modifying the amount of water supplied to the humidifier through the opening controlled by the valve 4 attached to the disk 8. 56 is a plug inserted in the steam pipe 27 preventing the passage of steam therethrough.

In the operation of my device, cold water for priming purposes is preferably first admitted to the pipe 17 through the tip 14 by operating the handle 13. The water passing through pipe 17 enters the chamber 24 through the pipe 22. It is evident that such priming might also be effected by releasing the wing nut 44, turning the disk 8 and valve 4, and admitting the priming water in this manner. As will be noted in Fig. I, the chamber 24 is preferably located just above the firebox B of the furnace A and occupies a tilted position; that is, the inner end of the chamber 24 is higher than the end attached to the pipe 23 so that the pipe 22 will at all times be maintained full of Water thereby afiording a seal sutficient to prevent the escape of steam from the vaporizer through the pipes 22 and 17. The tilting of the chamber 24 also permits any surplus Water accumulating in this chamber to pass out and to be discharged from the system through the pipe 35, pan 37 and waste pipe 38. Water in the chamber 24 that is converted into vapor passes through the pipe 23 up through the pipe 27 and pipe 51 into the vapor spray 54 in the chamber C, and from there to the several rooms of the house.

The thermostat 34 is the primary regulating device for regulating the flow of water through the chamber 3 into the pipe 17 and chamber 24. If a surplus amount of water is being fed to the chamber 24 and heated therein, such surplus heated water passes out of said chamber 24 through the pipe 23 and pipe 35 into the pan 37, causing the thermoshuts off, or substantially shuts ofi', the supply of water and thus until the surplus amount of water is disposed of no fresh supply of water, or at most only a very limited supply of such, is permitted to reach the chamber 24 and become vaporized.

It is evident that if my humidifier 1s applied to a hot water or steam heating system, independent piping for conducting the vapor to the several rooms of the house being heated must be supplied and a vapor spray, such as 54, supplied to the several rooms of such house.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described,

a member adapted to be inserted in the combustion chamber of a furnace, means for supplying water to said member, a vapor-spraymg device located at a point relat1vely. remote from said member and in connectlon therewith, a valve for regulating the supply of water to said member, a regulating bar connected with said valve, and a thermostat associated with said regulating bar and adapt- 7 ed to be controlled by the heat of excess water supplied to said member whereby the amount of water supplied to said member is controlled.

2. A device of the character described, having in combination, a water vaporizin member adapted for insertion into the combustion chamber of a furnace, means for supplying water to said member, a valve for regulating the Suppl of water, a device attached to said valve an adapted to be secured to a regulating bar for regulating the supply of water to the vaporizing member, and a supplemental bar in association with said first named regulating bar, whereby said first named regulating bar is initially permitted to'operate, and a thermostat adapted to cooperate with said supplemental bar, said thermostat being under the control of the heat of the vapors formed in the member in said combustion chamber of said furnace whereby said supplemental bar is adapted to be operated to permit said regulating bar to function.

3. A device of the character described having, in combination, a member adapted to be inserted into the combustion chamber of a furnace, means for supplying water to be vaporized to said member, a conduit leading from said member in communication with a vapor-spraying device located relatively remote from said member, a water supply regulating valve adapted to be controlled by a regulating bar, a thermostat for operating said bar, said thermostat being under the control of the heated vapors passing from said member in said combustion chamber of said furnace, and another thermostat also in connection with said water-regulating bar, said last named thermostat being adapted to be controlled by the heating of surplus water passing from said member in said combustion chamber.

4. In a device of the character described, a member adapted to be inserted in the combustion chamber of a furnace, priming means for primarily supplying said member with water to be vaporized, a conduit leading from said member to a vapor-spraying device relatively remote therefrom, and water-supplying means in communication with said member, said water-supplying means being adapted to be controlled by a thermostat operated by the heat of the water passing from said member.

5. A humidifying device for use in a heating system comprising a vaporizing chamber, means for supplying water to the vaporizing chamber, a spray arranged to discharge into the air circulating within the heating system vapor generated by the vaporizer, and a thermostat for controlling the amount of water supplied to the vaporizer, said thermostat being operated by the vapor generated by the vaporizer.

6. A humidifying device for use in a heating system comprising a vaporizer, a spray to distribute into the heating system vapor generated within the vaporizer, a connection extending between the vaporizer and the spray, means for supplying water to the vaporizer, and means for controlling the supply of water, the controlling means being operable to decrease the supply of water upon an excess being fed to the vaporizer.

7. A humidifying device for use in connection with heating systems, comprising a member adapted to be inserted into the combustion chamber of a furnace, means for supplying to said member water to be vaporized, a conduit for conducting vapors from said member to a vapor spraying device located at a point remote from said member, and a thermostat for controlling the supply of water to said member, said thermostat being in turn controlled by vapors generated within the vaporizer.

8. A humidifying device for use in connection with heating systems, comprisinv a vaporizer arranged for insertion into the firebox of a furnace, a spray arranged for insertion into the heating chamber of the furnace for distributingiinto the heating system vapor generated y the vaporizer, means for supplying water to the vaporizer, and a plurality of means for controlling the vpassage of said water, one of said means being governed by the vapor generated within the vaporizer, and the other of said means being governed by the water supplied to the vaporizer.

9. A humidifying device for use in heating systemscomprising a vaporizing chamber for insertion into the combustion chamber of a furnace, a vapor spray for insertion into the heating chamber of the furnace, a connection vaporizer, and means arranged for operation extending between the vaporizer and the independently of the automatic valve for spray to permit the passage of vapor from the priming the vaporizer at the commencement former into the latter, means for supplying of its vaporizing operation.

5 Water to the vaporizer, a valve located within In testimony that I claim the foregoing I the water supply means to control automatihereunto affix my signature. cally the amount of water admitted to the CHARLES E. HENDRIX. 

